[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3420-H3421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     JEOPARDIZING HEALTHY CHILDREN

  (Mr. PETERSON of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PETERSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, is there any human 
responsibility greater than ensuring the safety and healthy development 
of our children? Certainly not. Then why, Mr. Speaker, has the 
Republican Party singled out the children of America for punishment. 
Particularly poor children. The welfare reform package that my 
Republican friends have brought to the floor of the House of 
Representatives this week will put in jeopardy the healthy development 
this Nation's children by placing the School Lunch Program into a block 
grant. Literally, millions of children under the age of 12 go hungry 
each day and millions more will be placed at risk of hunger under this 
plan. We need to improve an already effective School Lunch Program--we 
certainly do not want to destroy a proven program that greatly improves 
our children's ability to learn and to attain their potential. We must 
protect our children's welfare--it is our one most important human 
responsibility.
                [[Page H3421]] REPUBLICAN WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. CHAMBLISS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to offer today some brief very 
sobering facts: Illegitimacy rates in this country have quadrupled in 
25 years. Welfare has gone from a short-term stay to a way of life with 
13 years being the average length of stay, including repeats spells. 
After 5 years on welfare, the average family will have received at 
least $60,000 in benefits tax free. In 1970, the proportion of teen 
mothers who were unmarried was 30 percent. By 1992, it was 72 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a few facts that clearly demonstrate that 
our current welfare system is a failure. Instead of providing hope, 
compassion, and opportunity, our failed Federal welfare system has only 
created more Government dependency and misery. In fact, nothing could 
be more cruel to welfare recipients and children than the system we 
have today.
  However, this cycle need not continue. Our welfare reform package 
provides tough love for welfare recipients giving them hope, 
independence, and opportunity. We strive to break the cycle of welfare 
dependency.
  I ask support of the Republican package this week.
  

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